Weed id

petehaskell

Hi... can someone please tell me the name of this weed. It has a long fleshy white tap root. Thanks for any suggestions.

K67

Sorry but it always amuses me when folk want to know the names of weeds, it's a weed so to the green bin or compost heap with it. 😁

Joy*

Looking at the roots, I'd be wary about putting them in the compost. The tiny pieces which are dark have new growth on them. You might cause yourself no end of problems if all the little bits grow. It takes a lot of heat in a compost heap to kill roots on bindweed so I avoid putting any in the compost and this looks similar.

petehaskell

Thanks for the replies..... I am a gardener and I'm keen to broaden my knowledge.  If clients have the same problem I will be able to enlighten them. I like to read up on things.... bit difficult if you don't know what it's called!!!

sandie.harvey

I think it's a plant called enchanter's nightshade
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=781

Dovefromabove

I agree with @sandie.harvey ... it’s Enchanter’s Nightshade. 

I wouldn’t put that on the compost heap. Weed it out thoroughly, dry and burn or otherwise destroy. 

Posy

Even a tiny bit of root will grow! It's a b...er. Don't put it anywhere near your compost!

petehaskell

Thanks so much for the replies... I have now read all about the pesky thing!!!!

Obelixx

I think it helps to know weed names so we can make educated choices about what, if any, to leave as host plants for larvae of moths, butterflies, pollinators and predators of pests or, as in this case, what not to put on the compost heap. 

We have ragwort on our plot and need to pull it out before it sets seed as we have horses next door and cattle on the other 3 sides.   Even so, we've been checking each plant for caterpillars of the cinnabar moth before we fork them out.